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Quantitative Changes in Cerebral Perfusion during Urinary Urgency in Women with Overactive Bladder
Nisha G Arya1, Steven J Weissbart2, Sihua Xu3
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Perelman School of Medicine, The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Biomed Research International
|September 15, 2017
Summary
Urinary urgency in women with overactive bladder (OAB) significantly increases cerebral blood flow in brain regions linked to emotional responses. This study used arterial spin labeling (ASL) to measure these changes.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Urology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Overactive bladder (OAB) significantly impacts quality of life.
- Understanding the neurological underpinnings of urinary urgency is crucial for developing effective treatments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantitatively measure changes in cerebral perfusion in response to urinary urgency in women with OAB.
- To utilize arterial spin labeling (ASL) fMRI to assess regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) alterations.
Main Methods:
- ASL fMRI scans were conducted on 12 women with OAB and 10 controls.
- Participants underwent bladder filling, rating urgency levels.
- rCBF was compared between low and high urgency states.
Main Results:
- No significant rCBF changes were observed in controls.
- In women with OAB, rCBF increased by 10-14% in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and left insula during high urgency.
- Additional activation was noted in the right insula, right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, and pons/midbrain.
Conclusions:
- Urinary urgency in OAB is associated with a quantifiable increase in cerebral perfusion.
- These brain regions are involved in processing the emotional and discomfort aspects of urgency.
- Findings highlight the brain's role in the OAB experience.
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